Trump: Willing to give 'sworn testimony' about James Comey's 'lies'

President Donald Trump defiantly addressed the swirling controversy that ensued following James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, saying on Friday at the White House that he is willing to testify under oath about his conversations with the former FBI Director. When asked whether he was willing to give sworn testimony about the conversations that Comey recorded subsequently in memoranda that he leaked to the media, Trump said, "One hundred percent."

Trump made the announcement during questions he fielded during the bilateral news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. When asked whether he was recording conversations in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I am not hinting at anything. I will tell you about it over a very short period of time." Trump told the media that they are "going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer."

Famed Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz said earlier this week that Trump was well within his authority to give direction to Comey concerning the Russia probe. Dershowitz asserted that there was no obstruction of justice in this case.

We should stop talking about obstruction of justice. No plausible case. We must distinguish crimes from pol sins https://t.co/Us4QKJB55M

Trump suggested that Comey was less than truthful in his Congressional testimony. Comey told senators that the president had asked him to end the FBI's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. "I didn't say that," Trump said. He also denied asking for Comey’s loyalty and added, "There would be nothing wrong if I did say it."

With regard to supposed relations between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russians, which has been the focus of three separate investigations, Trump said of Comey, "No collusion, no obstruction, he's a leaker." Trump was referring to a memo that Comey wrote of a dinner he had with the president that was subsequently leaked to the media. Trump said that his aides are “very happy” about the results of Comey’s testimony.

Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!

On Friday morning, Trump tweeted, "Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication, and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" Trump personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, said at a Thursday news conference that Comey had improperly released a record of “privileged” conversations with the president.